As a marine biology student and I spent my third year studying in the U.S in North Carolina by the coast. Wilmington is an incredibly beautiful place with an idyllic beach perfect for swimming, surfing and other activities. Experiencing university, living and studying in the U.S introduced me to an entirely different culture and even though there was no language barrier everything seemed to be done slightly differently.
One of my favourite things about being in the U.S was that I also had the chance to explore so many different parts of the east coast! During holidays such as thanksgiving and spring break I managed to go backpacking in Alabama, visit my friend and go swimming with manatees in Orlando, spend four days exploring New York City, drive up to Washington D.C to see the monuments and go hiking in the mountains of North Carolina.
I got to take some really interesting classes which are not offered in Southampton, as well as doing some really cool science. I met some amazing people at UNCW and during my time in america and would definitely recommend UNCW to anyone looking to spend a year on the east coast – even if I did develop a slight obsession with phytoplankton and become best friends with a one-eyed cat …
